Learn to ski

Learn To ski

Whether you’re a first-timer or rusty and in need of a refresher, our beginner and learner friendly ski holidays will see you loving the slopes in no time! Our guides for family skiing and learning to ski are a great place to start planning your ski trip. If you have any questions or would like advice, don’t hesitate to pick up the phone or drop us an email.

back to basics

what to take with you and what we'll arrange for you

If you’ve never skied before or are still a beginner, booking a ski trip can feel a bit like a minefield! Knowing which resort is best, planning what to take and when to go – where do you start? We're here to help! We've been skiing for decades all over Europe and beyond and know the best spots to visit whatever your ability.

We know you'll have a fantastic time wherever you go but proper and careful planning depending on your ability will make a whole world of difference. When booking your first ski holiday for example, and depending what you’re looking for, we would advise against booking some of the more famous resorts. You'll be paying high prices and it's unlikely you'll be able to make full use of your lift pass to fully explore the resort. Go to smaller resorts such as Arinsal in Andorra, Monte Bondone in Italy or Trysil in Norway, where you’ll get great instruction and more likely be able to explore the entire ski

area.

Our ski kit must haves:

• Warm and waterproof ski jacket
• Lined and waterproof salopettes
• Good pair of ski gloves (we love Hestra but they are on the expensive side!)
• A warm hat such as a beanie
• Thermals (tops and bottoms)
• A fleece to go under your jacket
• Ski socks
• Ski goggles (look for ventilation, double lens for anti-fogging and an adjustable strap)
• Sunglasses (it gets very sunny on the slopes and sometimes you need a break from your goggles!)

Most things can be bought in sports shops and supermarkets such as Sports Direct or TKMaxx so won’t cost the Earth! When Aldi and Lidl have their skiing range in, they often stock merino thermals and ski socks at a great price which are worth looking out for.

Most people choose to rent skis, ski boots, helmets and poles (or snowboard and boots) in the resort. If you book with us, we can organise all your equipment to be picked up either at your hotel or in a nearby ski rental location depending on where you’re staying.

area.

If you're a novice skier, we would always recommend booking lessons to get the most out of your experience. Even a few hours a day for the first week will give you the confidence you need to start exploring the whole resort without the aid of an instructor. A few things to know:

• We work with the most prestigious ski schools to ensure you'll have a fun and informative time, and most importantly get the best out of your holiday!
• English speaking instructors are a must to ensure nothing is lost in translation! We work with high quality ski schools across all our resorts.
• We recommend booking lessons in the morning while you (and the snow!) are fresh. Ideally, you'll start around 10am and have 2-3 hours with an instructor. This allows plenty of time to get up to the ski school meeting point in the morning and time to do your own thing in the afternoon.

The perfect way to relax after a morning lesson is lunch in a mountain restaurant! Enjoy the views while you eat tartiflette and drink hot chocolate before practicing what you have learnt in your lesson on the gentler slopes back down to the resort.

Try and book a hotel or apartment that is close to the ski slopes and ski school. The last thing you want to be doing is getting on buses or walking miles every morning. Staying close to the ski lifts and ski school means no rushing in the morning which helps keep stress levels low and enjoyment high.

Book an early flight so you arrive at the resort by mid-afternoon. This gives you plenty of time to collect your ski hire equipment, ski passes and find out where you need to go to meet your ski instructor if you have a lesson booked for the following morning.

Book a learn to ski pack with us – this includes ski pass to give access to all the ski lifts and pedestrian gondolas, ski rental equipment and ski lessons. We’ll organise everything for you so you can focus on skiing and relaxing!

How to choose a resort when learning to ski

When deciding where to go, we would suggest considering three main things:

1. Your ability – make sure you choose a resort with plenty of runs to suit the skiers on your trip (i.e. reds and blacks for experts, greens and blues for beginners), or a resort that has a variety of runs that will suit everyone
2. Non-skiing activities – some guests look for great nightlife/après or spa facilities, while others want family activities such as dog sledding, sledging and bowling. Choose a resort based on what else you’d like in addition to the skiing
3. Ski schools – if you’re learning, the quality of ski school will make a world of difference. Good instructors will boost your confidence and have you skiing the entire resort in no time!

There is quite a lot to consider when you book your first skiing holiday – we are here to help you through the process! Call us on 01248 712567 or drop us an email to info@absolutelysnow.com.